What is recorded here

Dubious in antiquity but undeniable in presence, the Cairn sits atop Carrauntoohil, the highest mountain in Ireland. Built from loose flat slabs gathered off the summit scree, it has become a climbers’ shelter rather than a monument to forgotten time. In storm or midnight, it offers no history at all, only dry ground, solid walls and the rare mercy of a roof when the sky stops being a sky.

A cairn of dubious antiquity is located on the summit of Carrauntoohil, the highest mountain in Ireland. Measuring 6m x 5m in overall dimensions, it is composed of loose, flat slabs, gathered from the scree on the mountain summit. The site was once described as a pile of stones (Hayward 1945, 83), but has since been modified for use as a climbers' shelter. Two other shelters occur on the summit. A large iron cross was erected N of the cairn in 1950. The above description is derived from A. O'Sullivan and J. Sheehan (compilers), 'The Iveragh peninsula: an archaeological survey of South Kerry'. Cork University Press (1996), no. 383. In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 28 July 2013

A cairn of uncertain antiquity, possibly prehistoric; its significance is unclear due to lack of archaeological investigation.

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